Improvement in ladies  under-vests



OLIVIA P. FLYNT.

Ladies Under Vests.

Patented September 23,1873,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

OLIVIA P. FLYNT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,602., dated September 23, 1873; application filed July 28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVIA P. FLYNT, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented anew and valuable Improvement in Connection with Ladies Under-Vests, the same being used as or in connection with a supporter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebein g had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In this invention I have sewed an inelastic supporter, to the elastic fabric of which a ladies under-vest is constructed. This supporter holds the drawers, flannel petticoat, stockings, and, when necessary, the catamenial bandage, and is, in itself, not elastic, with the exception of the portion connecting immediately with the stockings.

A great advantage which I claim for my supporter over all others is that the support comes directly from the shoulder. Many supporters claim to pass over the shoulder, when in reality they pass over a point between the shoulder and the neck, as do gentlemens suspenders, thus producing deformity and marring the beauty of the female form. The ordinary supporter passes over the shoulder at or near the clavicle or collar bone, and thence directly over the breast, having a tendency not only to injure the form but to produce disease in the breast, while mine passes over the shoulder-blade, or about where the shoulderblade and humerus meet, then passing down in the rear of the breast, and always retains its place inasmuch as it is sewed into the under-vest.

The details of the invention are more fully described below.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a view of the front side of the under-vest and supporter above named. Fig. 2 is a view of the rear side of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

a is an ordinary ladies under-vest, made of silk or any other elastic material. I) is an inelastic band sewed continuously to the undervest a, and extending from the band d in front over the shoulder to the band 0 in the rear. This band 1) passes over the tip of the shoulder, as above stated, and consequently does not injure the form. x is the point in the broken line 3 (showing the configuration of the form) at which all other supporters and suspenders which have passed under my notice are carried over the shoulder, having a tendency to pull down and injure the form. 0 is a band sewed to the under;vest, and passing entirely around the body at a distance of about four inches below the natural belt or waist. It is placed at this point in order to avoid the thickness of tight clothing, which is usually found at the waist. c are buttons upon the band 0, from which depend the drawers and flannel petticoat, all supported indirectly by the bands b. Both the band 0 and the under-vest are made loose, as, for example, for a person measuring twenty-eight inches around the waist, the band 0 would be made to measure forty inches. The lower band d extends under the abdomen in front, and attaches at each end behind to the band 0 at the points where the bands I) end. The band 6 at the rear extends from the neck to some distance below the band 0. The buttons 01 and c are to be used in attaching a catamenial bandage when desired. All the bands I), 0,61, and c are sewed to the under-vest a at their entire length, and are not elastic. It will be noticed that the under-vest is shaped at a to the arm and shoulder, instead of being cut straight, as is usual. dcr-vest at the front extremities of the bands b are the stockingsupporters g. The threc elastic bands h k l attach to the stockings, three being used instead of two to accommodate the style of stockings nowin vogue, which extend above the knee.

The supporter dis very useful as an abdominal supporter, and may be made wider, if desired, and of the proper shape to afford the most support possible. After confinement many ladies will find this a very important support.

I propose, if deemed most practicable, to make the straps b and d of one continuous piece, in order to secure greater strength, as great strain occurs at the points where the two straps meet. It is not intended in this invention to have the strain all at the shoulders, but to have it equalized; and, in reality,

Attached to the unthereto and made to pass over the shoulder of the wearer. V

2. The combination and arrangement of the bands I) and stocking-supporters g h k l, substantially as above set forth.

3. The combination and arrangement, with the bands I), of the band 0, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

4. The arrangement of the bands I) and abdominal supporter 01, both made of the same piece, or each separately, substantially as and for the purposes above specified.

5. The arrangement of the bands I) with the abdominal supporter d and band a, substantially as and for the purpose before set forth.

6. The combination and arrangement of the under-vest a a, hands b c d e, and stockingsupporters g, the whole being combined, arranged, and constructed as set forth.

OLIVIA P. FLYNT.

Witnesses:

Miss E. F. FINN, HENRY W. WILLIAMS. 

